The sounds of sophomore running back Branden Oliver blowing by defenders, sophomore linebacker Khalil Mack obliterating his opponents in the backfield, and the sighs of fans after Buffalo's nine losses are just a few that were associated with the football team this season.
Few associate the strum of an acoustic guitar, the pounds of a drum machine, and the flows of a rap freestyle with the Bulls.
Senior cornerback Joe Petit, sophomore lineman Trevor Sales, sophomore quarterback Alex Zordich, and Mack are football players to the public eye. However, the four athletes double as musicians. Sales is a skilled rapper and beat producer, while Mack, Petit, and Zordich specialize in playing the guitar.
Although they have been deeply involved in football for years, the four have always had a passion for music. Their interests intensified when they came to play for Buffalo. Mack, Petit, and Zordich all started playing guitar as freshmen. Each is self-taught, learning through the Internet and each other.
"I always loved music," Petit said. "I just wanted to do something else. When I first came I was focused on football and schoolwork, and I didn't want to go out that much. So I just played a guitar to keep me occupied, and I played it every day before and after practice."
Petit's ability on the strings was another reason Mack decided to pick up the guitar back in March. The linebacker would listen to Petit play, and after being around others who played instruments at his church in Fort Pierce, Fla., Mack was sold. Being occupied between games and practices was an added bonus.
"I wanted to be productive with my free time," Mack said. "Instead of playing video games I picked [the guitar] up and learned."
Sales has been making music the longest out of the bunch. The transfer from Delaware State has been producing beats and rapping since he was 14 years old. Sales' skills as an MC are no secret, however, as he has multiple videos of his raps on YouTube. His video titled "Trev VS. Jake Rap Battle" has over 138,000 views.
Sales, also known as Big Trev, uses his football experience as musical inspiration. The sophomore didn't play this season due to NCAA transfer rules, but he recalls using music as an outlet after football disappointment.
"After a tough practice or a tough loss, your mind is kind of like ‘what happened?'" Sales said. "You don't feel comfortable talking to anybody. So in a drum machine, [I'd] express [my] feelings through what my hands are doing and what kind of sounds are coming through my hands."
Zordich uses his guitar as a stress mediator as well.
Petit, Sales, and Zordich are often complimented when they tell others of their musical interests. Mack, on the other hand, is met with bewilderment at times, as his relentlessness on the field is a sharp contrast to his desire to cover Jason Mraz songs.
Mack wanted to break the stereotype.
"I get questioned about how I started and why," Mack said. "[They say] ‘You're a football player, a big guy. Why are you singing and playing the guitar?' I grew up [around music] and wanted to be different. So I picked up the guitar."
The four have different musical preferences. Sales prefers the lyricism of Lupe Fiasco, while Zordich relates to the traditional rock of Bruce Springsteen. Petit likes the neo-soul of Erykah Badu and the experimentalism of hip-hop duo OutKast. Mack enjoys listening to Mac Miller.
The musicians find ways to blend their different tastes when they perform together in jam sessions, strengthening their bond in the process. Zordich recalled playing a Pearl Jam riff under a Sales freestyle during a campfire gathering with members of the football team.
Zordich looked back on the experience and its influence on his teammates fondly.
"All the boys were together," Zordich said. "They loved it and thought it was cool. I know [junior linebacker] Scott Pettigrew is learning to play the banjo now…and he's all excited."
The 2011 Buffalo football team had 102 players on its roster. It wouldn't be farfetched to say many other talents are being developed by these college athletes.
"Everybody has a bunch of talents," Zordich said. "We're not just football players, you know."
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